Black English Since Slavery

Slaves who first spoke Black English led very limited lives -- doing basically the same kind of work everyday; not being allowed to have a life outside the plantation; legally kept from learning to read, write, or count; and forbidden to socialize with anyone beyond slave owners, overseers, and fellow plantation slaves.

Black Americas Unfinished March on Washington

This past weekend thousands of Americans gathered in Washingtonjoined in spirit, no doubt, by millions of their compatriots throughout the countryto celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the historic March on Washington that occurred August 28, 1963.

Bustamante, the Recall, and the N Word

The moment that California Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante said he would toss his name in as a replacement candidate in the recall race, the buzz among Blacks was that he was the guy who used the N word. In a speech in February, 2001 to a group of Black trade unionists Bustamante purportedly slipped and uttered the dreaded N-word.

Post-Civil War Negro Naming

There was a connection between the freeing of the slaves and the ancient African concept of death and resurrection. Based on the god-man story of Osiris, this African savior-god made men and women to be born again. As a god-man, he suffered, he died, rose again, and reigned eternally in heaven.